ARMC repairs water damage to three floors after pipe bursts

Wednesday

May 29, 2013 at 3:06 PM

April Burkhart

Dozens of patients at Athens Regional Medical Center were relocated Monday after a water pipe burst that morning and flooded 41 rooms on three floors.

"Engineering received a call from the sixth floor nurse station indicating a water leak in one of the patient rooms. When Engineering arrived on the unit, water was already standing on the floor," said ARMC Engineering and Construction Services Director Jeff Mosely. "Per protocol, engineering assisted with the relocation of patients in the immediate area."

Patients were relocated to new rooms on their respective units and a nursing unit not currently being used was reactivated to provide additional capacity.

Engineering staff searched several potential sources for the leak and found it behind a wall in a patient's room.

"Fortunately, the source of the leak was domestic cold water (potable)," Mosely said. "Once the source of the leak was determined, a shut-off valve was closed to stop further leaking."

The water damaged some drywall, ceiling tiles and millwork, Mosely said. No medical equipment or systems were damaged in the flood.

Paul Davis Restoration, a national company with an office in Athens, was called to clear out the water and repair the damage. Some rooms already have been released for patient use, he said. The remainder of the rooms will be ready in one to two weeks.